It's that time of year again and what a year it has been, and now it's time to start publishing the Best Of 2017s from our key people and on 31st December we'll be announcing the end result, one winner from each category. Here's Liz's Best Of 2017s...

BEST BAND: CATS IN SPACE

The Year Of The Cat indeed, whatever the Chinese calendar says. Headlining tours, support slots with Status Quo and Deep Purple, that stellar second album. Happiness abounds – this band are my catnip.

2. INGLORIOUS

Another year of hard graft to go with the outstanding songs and live shows. Inglorious continue to cement their place at the top of the pack.

3. SUPERSONIC BLUES MACHINE

Not just any old blues-rock band, there is an extra touch of magic here, gratifyingly heavy and a stand-out among the genre.

BEST ALBUM: INGLORIOUS- 'II'

All three in this ridiculously close category (confession – I had to draw the final order out of a bag it was so hard to choose) share a common theme. After repeated listening they still make me stop whatever I am doing, and focus only on the music (and possibly singing along like a loon). This second album from Inglorious is packed full of delicious hard rock songs that have matured as well as a fabulous malt whisky.

2. CATS IN SPACE - 'SCARECROW'

The harmony, the melody, the crafting, the pace, the utter brilliance, and my favourite ever use of a talk box on a track. Sheer delight.

3. BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION - 'BCCIV'

What a return, this group was always a magical combination and this album has the wow factor in spades.

BEST FESTIVAL: WACKEN

This year, there can be only one. Holy Ground indeed. Has to be in the top spot after the amount of memories made from 2017.

BEST GIG: GLENN HUGHES, ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

An unbelievably hard category to choose this year, the variety and quality appears to get better every year. In the end I had to narrow it down to those where there was a special touch of magic. Glenn Hughes brought the house down with this breathtaking display. If it's possible to be in love with a show, then this does it for me.

2. MARILLION, LONDON PALLADIUM

Fresh from the triumphant Albert Hall show the previous month, Marillion excelled with this career-spanning set that was full of joy and life with plenty of intense and profound moments thrown in for good measure.

3. INGLORIOUS, ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL

I have been to countless album launch shows, but not one like this. Everything fell into place, Inglorious moved firmly up a career notch, and the audience response was out of this world.

BEST NEW BAND: CELLAR DARLING

This is the sound of modern folk Metal, and it's bloody brilliant.

2. WAYWARD SONS

Toby Jepson's new band blasted on to the scene with a simply stunning album and live show.

3. RAVENEYE

A genuinely exciting live show and manic, feral goodness from a band whose energy could power up a small town.

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2018

There is every likelihood that we are going to be as spoilt for choice in 2018 as we were in 2017, with new releases from Orphaned Land, StoneWire, Magnum and Anvil.